Method of and apparatus for cleaving or splitting rock or the like



Jan. 31, 1939. K. P. BILLNER 2,145,473

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEAVING OR SPLITTING ROCK OR THE LIKE Filed March 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Karl PBiUneI BY 6' \v/wm l) ATTORNEY.

Jan. 31, 1939. K. P. BILLNER 2,145,473

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CLEAVING OR SPLITTING ROCK OR THE LIKE Filed March 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Karl P Billner I Al 1 w 15 H TQ m M V V x 5 III ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I Karl P. Billner, New York, N. Y.

Application March 12, 1938, Serial No. 195,453

'12 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus for cleaving or splitting rock, whereby large quantities thereof may be excavated silently and with highly desirable results. I am thus enabled to avoid the undesirable effects of shattering by an explosive action and also to avoid the dangers that are attendant on the use of explosives.

t is a well-known fact that water expands in passing from the liquid to the solid state. This phenomenon has in the past been used in order to disintegrate rock. In its application for this purpose it was customary to drill holes of shallow depth spaced close intervals and to fill the holes with water and then to await the coming of cold Weather to cause the water to freeze. In doing so, the resulting expansion of thewater would cause the rock to cleave. This manner of procedure would not be adapted for accomplishing the work of blasting or dynamiting as applied in modern engineering practice because it was dependent Wholly on natural freezing action which occurs only during a certain part of the year and does not occur at all in certain parts of the world. Furthermore, such natural freezing action does not take place efiectively beyond certain limiting distances from the rzposed surface. It cannot therefore be resorted to in mining operations or in the formation of deep foundations or La tunnel excavations.

I propose to accomplish excav tion of rocir by artificial freezing of water consequently my invention can be carrie out at a time of the year with n any nice. "o y. It is known that water .i ezing e pands and its volume increases by about 19%, as a result of which energy of an extremely value is developed. As a matter or" fact one pound of water in freezing will develop a considerable part of the energy developed by on pound of ordinary commercial dynamite. Instead of developing its energy in the form of a practically instantaneous explosion with consequent shattering as with dynamite, water when frozen to a solid state creates slow uniform pressure, resulting in the development of a disruptive force largely approaching that of dynamite but without the explosive or shattering efiect. This is or" particular importance when rock is to be excavated near adjacent buildings, in cities, or when excavating rock in tunnel construction or in connection with the removal of ore in mines where it is desirable not to remove strata adjacent the ore.

Furthermore, in adopting my invention to mine excavations, I not only eliminate the danger and hazard of dynamiting but I also avoid the creation of smoke and dust which at present cause a serious and ofttimes fatal lung aiiliction to workmen (silicosis). Also in mining operations my invention permits the accurate definition of the boundaries of the excavation to be elfected, whereby greater economy in operation is secured and larger quantities of ore may be removed without impairing the carrying capacity of the pillars or partitions which must be left to support the roof.

Another very important advantage is that the danger and risks which are always present in using high explosives are largely eliminated. As a matter of fact the shock from ordinary blasting in many cases may cause disruptive vibrations resulting in damage to adjacent property which may not be detectable at the time of blasting. All of these hazards are practically eliminated by the use of my present invention.

In carrying out the invention I first drill a line of holes in the rock which may be relatively widely separated say from 1 to ieet apart and which ordinarily are of substantial depth, up to 10 feet or more. These holes are of substantial H diameter say from 2 to 4; inches. 3 then insert in these holes a system of coils oi? small diameter tubing through. which the freezing solution s pumped. This freezing sol suitable character, such compressed then seach ...ole tightened cap fitting over and the mouth of each hole. The coil re..- preferably carried by said cap.

When it is desired to freeze the water simultaneously in many holes, then in order to reduce the friction of the freezing medium through the several coils, I may use a system of main pipe lines with which the coil for each hole is attached. This object of eliminating iiow resistthe latter passes by sublimation to the gaseous state without melting and therefore it is importanti that the tube containing the dry ice should have suflicient strength as to oppose the expansive efiect of the freezing water.

With the method now under consideration the tube may be provided with fins or protuberances on its exterior arranged in any desired relation to the tube, to thus extend the area. of the tube in contact with the water so as to increase the freezing action.

In order to provide means in addition to the above mentioned cap for sealing the mouth of each tube, I may employ a concentration of freezing coils near the mouth of the tube whereby a plug of ice may be first formed within the drilled hole near the mouth thereof.

In order to make sure that each drilled hole is entirely filled with water during the freezing process without the formation of air pockets and to compensate for possible absorption from the walls of the hole or of leakage through seams that may be formed in certain strata of rock, water may be poured continuously into the hole as the freezing process progresses, such water being introduced through a special feeding pipe of small diameter passing through the sealing cap. It is possible to inspect the drilled holes by means of an electric bulb carried on the end of a rod and with a 45 degree mirror, by which the walls of the hole may be observed for the detection of such seams if there are any. If seams are observed, the interior walls of the hole may be painted with a suitable watertight medium or coating, of which there are many well-known in the art, thus closing any seams before the hole is filled with water.

Instead of freezing the water in the drilled holes in the manner described I may first bring the rock'walls of the holes substantially below the freezing point before introducing the water. However, I consider this particular method to be less efiective than when a freezing solution or other medium is circulated through freezing coils as first explained. With this modification of my invention I make use of a straight tube of slightly smaller diameter than that of the drilled hole and extending throughout the length of the hole and I employ a second tube within the first and then cause the freezing medium to circulate through the inner tube to the bottom of the hole and in a reverse direction between the inner and outer tubes back to the mouth of the hole or vice versa. After having in this manner chilled the rock surrounding the drilled hole well below a sub-freezing temperature, the tubes are removed and the drilled hole filled with water which is chiled and frozen by the adjacent walls.

Instead of chilling the rock adjacent to the drilled holes as I have explained by means of a freezing medium circulated through a pair of tubes, it is possible to effect the same results by introducing .dryice into the holes until the body of the rock adjacent the same has been brought down to a sufflciently low temperature, after which the water to be frozen is introduced.

In order that my invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which- Figure l is a partial cross-section taken on the line 5-4 of Figure 2. v

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view illustrating a series of refrigerating devices and their connections for the inlet and outlet of the freezing fluid.

- Figure 4 is a central vertical section of a modified arrangement in which a finned tube is used instead of the coil shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a partial cross section of still another modified form intended for use with dry ice pellets to eflect the freezing of the water and Figure 6 illustrates another modification with which a freezing tube is provided with thin vertical fins instead of the helical fins of Figures 4 and 5.

In the foregoing views corresponding parts are represented by thesame reference characters.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, i represents one of the holes drilled in the rock in the desired location. For instance, as shown in Figure 3 the holes may extend in a straight line one or more feet apart, each having a diameter of two inches or more and preferably of substantial depth, say in excess of five feet. Each drilled hole I is slightly undercut as shown at 2 and within this undercut portion isinserted a split collet 3 whereby the collet will be formed with a series of slots 3' as shown.

Engaging the interiorly threaded collet is a threaded tapered plug 4 which is adapted to be screwed down into position, thus causing asplit collet to be expanded into intimate contact with the undercut portion 2 of the hole to form a water tight seal of great strength. The tapered plug t carries a coil 5 through which the freezing liquid is introduced and is returned through a straight pipe 5' extending axially through coil 5, the path of the liquid being indicated by arrows. The coil 5 outside of the plug connects with an angular coupling 6 for receiving a flexible hose 6' connected to an inlet main 6" by which the freezing liquid may be supplied to a series of freezing devices as shown in Figure 3.

The straight portion 5' outside the plug connects with an angular coupling 1. which through a flexible hose I leads to an exit main 1'. Water is introduced within the hole I through channels in the tapered plug, adapted to be closed by pipe Plugs 9.

In carrying out my improved method by means of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, I first drill the desired series of holes 5 of suitable dimensions as to diameter and depth and spaced the proper distance apart and I then introduce within each hole the freezing coil 5 which is carried by the plug A and which extends almost to the bottom of the hole, after which water is introduced within the hole so as to entirely fill the same, being then sealed by the plugs 9.

The freezing liquid such as chilled brine, compressed ammonia gas or compressed carbon dioxide is now fed simultaneously from inlet main 6" through the coils 5 and out through the exit main 1'. Thus in bringing about a rapid freezing of the water within the several holes! and by reason of the expansion thereof in turning into ice, a tremendous force is exerted to split or cleave the rock along the prescribed line. If desired, the freezing capacity of the coils 5 may be so distributed that the freezing effect will begin at the upper portion of the hole closely adjacent the tapered plugs, thus causing a preliminary plug of ice to be formed at the top of the holes to increase the sealing effect and thus increase the disruptive action dueto expansion.

As I have before explained, with rock or the like showing a tendency to form fissures, the holes I after being drilled may be inspected by means of an electric lamp and after the fissiu'es or other leaks are discovered, the hole may be first given a preliminary coating of a suitable waterproofing liquid, of which many examples are known.

Referring to the modifications shown in Figure 4, the elements I, 2, 3 and 4 are the same as in Figures 1 and 2. With this modification a straight pipe I is carried by the plug 4 and extends almost to the bottom of the hole I. This pipe in is illustrated as being provided with a helical fin II by which the freezing effect will be increased to thereby reduce the time element. A plug l2 closes the bottom of the pipe I. Carried within the pipe in is a small pipe l3, the same being tightly sealed within the plug by a packing arrangement I4 as shown. The freezing liquid entering at 6 is removed at I as with Figures 1 and 2, the path of fiow being indicated by the arrows at the lower end of the pipe l3. It will be understood that water will be introduced through the tapered plug as in Figures 1 and 2 or in any other suitable way. The operation of this modification is the same as with Figures 1 and 2, the freezing effect of the cooling liquid being transmitted in a highly efficient way to the water, causing the latter to turn into ice with great rapidity.

With the modification shown in Figure 6 the arrangement and operation are the same as in Figure 4 except that instead of providing the pipe or tube ID with a helical fin H a series of vertical fins l5 may be made use of and it will of course be understood that instead of a single helical fin H a plurality of horizontally arranged ring-like fins may be employed for the same purpose.

With all of the arrangements which I have so far described the freezing liquid after being withdrawn through the exit main 1" may be recompressed and passed through cooling coils, as with ordinary compression ice machines or the cooling liquid may be activated in any other desirable way, whereby its capacity to efiect the rapid conversion of the water into ice may be restored.

With the modification shown in Figure 5 I connect the pipe in to a centrally located channel l6, funnel-shaped as at IT at its upper end. Into the channel Il may be introduced so-called dry ice which in subliming within the pipe ill will produce an intensely rapid freezing effect. With this arrangement the channel it is left open to provide for the escape of carbon dioxide gas and also providing for the introduction of additional amounts of dry ice as the same may be required;

As I have indicated it will be possible though less desirable to chill the rock mass a sufiicient distance inwardly from each hole and to a low enough temperature, such as by the employment of dry ice, whereby when water is introduced within the chilled hole it will almost immediately freeze and turn into ice with the resulting disruptive expansion.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. The method of cleaving or splitting rock or the like, which consists in drilling a hole therein, relatively deep with respect to its diameter, sealing the mouth of said hole, filling the hole entirely full of water and causing the water to freeze solid, whereby an expansive effect is secured.

2. The method of cleaving or splitting rock or the like, which consists in drilling a. series of aligned holes therein, each relatively deep with respect to its diameter, sealing the mouth of each hole, filling the several holes entirely full of water and simultaneously causing the water in the respective holes to freeze solid, whereby an expansion efifect is secured.

3. The method of cleaving or splitting rock or the like which consists in drilling a hole therein of relatively great depth with respect to its diameter, sealing the mouth of said hole, filling the hole entirely full of water and subjecting the water to the effect of an extremely cold refrigerant, confined within the water, to quickly freeze the same, whereby an expansion effect is secured.

4. The method of cleaving or splitting rock or the like, which consists in drilling a hole in the rock of relatively great depth compared with its diameter, sealing the mouth of the hole, filling the hole entirely full of water and subjecting the body of water to the refrigerating action of dry ice, whereby the water will quickly congeal and exert an expansive effect.

5. The method of cleaving or splitting rock or the like, which consists in drilling a series of aligned holes in the rock, sealing the mouths of said holes, completely filling all of said holes with water, arranging inlet and outlet mains parallel with said holes and simultaneously subjecting the water in all of said holes to the refrigerating action of a liquid refrigerant, passing in multiple from the inlet to the outlet main.

6. Apparatus for cleaving or splitting rock or the like, having a drilled opening formed therein of relatively great depth with respect to its diameter, said apparatus comprising a split collet entering said hole, a tapered plug for expanding said collet into solid engagement with said hole and refrigerating pipes carried by said plug for the purpose of effecting a rapid freezing of water entirely filling said hole.

7. Apparatus for cleaving or splitting rock or the like formed with a drilled hole therein of relatively great depth compared to itsdiameter, said apparatus comprising a split collet engaging the mouth of said hole, a tapered plug for expanding said collet into solid engagement with said hole and a pipe coil carried by said plug and containing a stream or" liquid refrigerant, whereby a body of water entirely filling said hole can be quickly 7' frozen to produce an expansive efiect.

8. Apparatus for cleaving or splitting rock or the like having a hole drilled therein of relatively great depth compared to its diameter, said apparatus comprising a split collet, a tapered plug for expanding said collet into solid engagement with said hole, a pipe carried by said plug, refrigerating fins formed on the said pipe and means for introducing a refrigerating medium into said pipe whereby a body of water entirely filling said hole will quickly freeze to produce an expansive efiect.

9. Apparatus for cleaving or splitting rock or the like having a hole drilled therein of relatively great depth compared to its diameter, said apparatus comprising a split collet, a plug for expanding said collet into solid engagement with said hole, a pipe carried by said plug for admitting a liquid refrigerant thereto and a smaller pipe within the same for withdrawing said liquid refrigerant, whereby a freezing effect will be secured with resulting expansion of the water.

10. Apparatus for cleaving or splitting rock or the like formed with a drilled hole therein of relatively great depth with respect to its diameter, said apparatus comprising means for sealing the mouth of said hole, a pipe carried by the sealing means and extending into the hole substantially its entire length and means for introducing a refrigerant within said pipe whereby a body of water entirely filling the hole will be subjected to a rapid freezing action with resulting expansion.

11. The method of cleaving or splitting rock or the like which consists in drilling a hole in the rock of relatively great depth with respect to its diameter, in subjecting the walls of the hole to a suitable water proofing liquid, in filling the hole with water and in subjecting the water to a rapid refrigeration to freeze the same with resulting 1o expansion.

12. The method of cleaving or splitting rock or the like; which consists in drilling a hole therein of relatively great depth compared to its diameter, in subjecting therock body adjacent the hole to intense cold, so as to reduce the temperature thereof substantially below freezing and in introducing water into said hole to cause it to be rapidly frozen with resulting expansion.

KARL P. 15mm. 

